Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: January 28, 2026

Purpose:

Content: UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: That the amendments to the joint motion were CARRIED as follows:   Renewing our Commitment to Further Strengthen School Inclusion and Reduce Exclusions, Preventing Harmful Outcomes   Hackney Council notes: 1.  Strengthening school inclusion is a priority, working in partnership with the voluntary sector, local and central government.   2.  The 2025 inclusion Parliamentary Roundtable co-chaired by the Rt Hon Diane Abbott and Deputy Mayor Cllr Anntoinette Bramble 2025.   3.  The adoption of the Hackney Education No Need to Exclude guidance (2015), Hackney’s commitment as a signatory to the London Inclusion Charter, and Council motion Mental Health: A Human Right for All adopted in September 2023.   4.  Hackney has the highest rates of permanent exclusions in London and second highest suspensions. Suspensions rose from 2,775 to 3,207 and permanent exclusions increased from 33 to 52 between 2022/2023 and 2023/2024.   5.  Exclusions and disciplinary sanctions disproportionately affect Black and Global Majority pupils and intersect with unmet SEND, safeguarding vulnerability, and involvement with social care and Youth Justice service   6.  Recent safeguarding practice reviews, including the Mossbourne review, highlight harm caused by punitive disciplinary cultures, particularly for pupils with SEND and those from Black and Global Majority backgrounds.   The Council recognises: 7.  The Council’s statutory duties under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 to secure suitable education for children who are out of school, aligned to their age, ability, aptitude, SEND and best interests, and its obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty (Section 149 Equality Act 2010) to prevent foreseeable harm and discrimination.   Hackney Council resolves to: 8.  Continue working with headteachers, governing bodies and academy trusts across Hackney, including through existing service-level agreements and partnership arrangements, to promote and ensure compliance with current DfE guidance, safeguarding requirements, SEND duties and anti-racist principles, equalities legislation including (the Public Sector Equality Duty) ensuring exclusion is always a genuine last resort.   9.  Implement our Education Strategy, shaped by parents, carers, schools, and local voluntary sector through; including the work on Hackney Education Additional Learning Service to strengthen a trauma-informed inclusion approach.   10.Ensure no pupil with identified or suspected SEND is excluded unless statutory SEND duties, reasonable adjustments and early intervention have been demonstrably met and evidenced.   11.Continue to implement the recommendations of the 2021 Children and Young People’s Scrutiny review and any further recommendations arising from scrutiny of school behaviour and exclusion practice.   12.Continue to promote trauma-informed, culturally competent and anti-racist practice across Hackney schools, informed by local data on disproportionality in exclusions and disciplinary sanctions.   13.Continue to strengthen peer support and advocacy for parents and carers. Enhance SEND independent advice and guidance wrap-around, family-friendly support to prevent exclusions, including accessible communication on the Local Offer and early sign posting to access to independent legal advocacy where exclusion or managed move is being considered.   14.Through our School Improvement Partners we will develop our approach to discussing and monitoring managed moves within schools.   15.Improve transparency by publishing validated exclusions data to identify trends. Hackney Education will monitor any potential off rolling and escalate accordingly.   16.Develop our Hackney Alternative Education Learning Service inclusion panel with oversight from the Director of Education to review potential or actual exclusions promptly and prevent exclusion wherever possible.   17.Continue to advocate nationally for a fully inclusive education system